CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 270030Z HONG KONG
TELNO 1760
OF 26164OZ SEP 91
CONFIDENTIAL
HKB 011/11
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
13
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM RICKETTS, HKD PEKING PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR
You telnos 2987-9
1.
· Address b legco.
la
ylax Exacting
162755
MDHOAN 1478
Mr, Stone
70827/9
Mr Bander
MANY THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON THESE
я вс
MR GALSWORTHY HAS NOT HAD A CHANCE TO STUDY THEM THIS WEEK GIVEN THE JLG PRESSURES, AND HOPES TO LET YOU HAVE SOME COMMENTS ON HIS RETURN TO HONG KONG NEXT WEEK.
2.
WE HAVE VERY FEW COMMENTS TO OFFER ON THE DRAFTS. THERE
WERE ONLY TWO OMISSIONS WHICH STRUCK US. I SUSPECT THAT BOTH ARE INTENTIONAL, BUT YOU MIGHT NEVERTHELESS LIKE TO CONSIDER THE CASE FOR INCLUDING BRIEF REFERENCES TO EACH:
=
- THE PASSAGE ON PREPARING FOR THE NEXT LEGCO ELECTIONS IN 1995 IN PARAGRAPHS 12 AND 13 AVOIDS THE MOST TOPICAL ISSUE OF INCREASING THE NUMBER OF DIRECTLY-ELECTED SEATS. I CAN WELL UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WOULD NOT WANT TO SAY ANYTHING DEFINITIVE ABOUT THAT. BUT I WONDER WHETHER IT WOULD PRE-EMPT PRESS
CRITICISM FOR OMITTING THE ISSUE IF YOU WERE TO INCLUDE SOMETHING ON THE LINES OF THE PRIME MINISTER'S COMMENTS AT HIS
PRESS CONFERENCE IN HONG KONG ABOUT THE NEED TO REVIEW THE OUTCOME OF THE 1991 ELECTIONS AND CONSULT THE NEW MEMBERS OF LEGCO BEFORE MAKING ANY DECISIONS?
PARAGRAPH 23 ON THE NEED FOR CLOSER COOPERATION WITH CHINA AS 1997 APPROACHES MAKES NO REFERENCE TO THE JLG, ALTHOUGH IT DOES COVER THE NEXT TIER ABOVE IN THE STRUCTURE, IE THE SIX-MONTHLY FOREIGN MINISTERS' MEETINGS. WOULD IT NOT BE WORTH HAVING A SENTENCE ON THE ACCELERATION OF THE JLG'S WORK AND THE NEED FOR THIS TO BE SUSTAINED IN THE COMING YEAR? YOU COULD ALSO HAVE A REFERENCE TO THE PRIME MINISTER'S COMMENT IN HONG KONG THAT IF NECESSARY HE WOULD BE PREPARED TO WEIGH IN TO BREAK LOG-JAMS.
3. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE FINAL VERSION (AND WILL ENSURE THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS A CHANCE TO READ THIS BEFORE YOU
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